This place is like an old Chinatown eatery in those San Fran or NYC movies. You push through two old and badly-needs-paint job doors and over this fake little bridge that crosses a "pond" without water running and off you go into a tired restaurant.
Expect to see a sad table sitting over a thin, white plastic cover and sip on overly-diluted tea. And as I flipped though the sticky and old menu I keep on wondering gee is my food going to be cooked by a scrubby man with a ciggy in his mouth as he work my stir fry?
Well with that pleasant thought I mind my dad ordered the Mapo tofu, I pointed to the water-boiled beef and pursed my lips over the Yu-Xiang eggplants. "Please go easy on the salt" I broke a smile to the equally-tired-looking waiter.
Moments later the Mapo tofu and the beef emerged in astonishing speed!
Mapo Tofu has definitely got the numbing peppercorn powders all over it and is quite delicious! I don't see much diced pork in the sauce but the spicy level and the peppercorn level is quite good. Will order next time for sure.
The water-boiled beef arrives in a LARGE pot and layered with generous portions of sliced beef bathed in red chilly oil and covered with an array of spices. Underneath the beef are the mixed veggie of cleverly and Shanghai Bok choy. I love the flavour and the portion of this one!
The egg plants were seared beautifully before tossed and fried in the special sauce. It is definitely on the oily side but the plant picks up flavour easily and it's my fav dish out of all three.
We were surprised when the waiter brought us dessert made of gobi berry and white fungus and date. And the bill came under $35 for two people that's stuffed!
All in all, good flavour, portion and services. So Come here for the spicy food, don't come for the ambience.
Cheerio!